UPDATE: Highway 24 Bridge Closures to Begin in Clearwater

CLEARWATER -- Bridge closures in Clearwater are now set to begin Monday after high water delayed the delivery and installation of beams to the work site.

The work on the new Highway 24 bridge will cause some traffic delays over the next few weeks. It was to begin December 5th, but was delayed until the water levels subsided below the temporary causeway.

Starting Monday, Highway 24 will be shut down to traffic for 15 minutes at a time, up to four times per day. Flaggers will be controlling traffic near the bridge in each direction as large beams are delivered to the site.

The beams are 178-foot concrete beams, each weighing approximately 110 tons.

The road closures will take place Mondays through Fridays during daylight hours and will continue until all 46 beams are delivered.

The new bridge is expected to open in the summer of 2018 and will replace the existing bridge which is nearly 60 years old.